Liberty Travalong Owner's Manual

By: LIBERTY INC.

OWNERS MANUAL

451 HWY 9

WATERVILLE, KS 66548

785-363-2552 PHONE

785-363-2402 FAX

WWW.TRAVALONG.COM

EMAIL LIBERTY@ BLUEVALLEY.NET

A. BREAKING IN A NEW TRAILER

 RETIGHTEN LUG NUTS AT FIRST 25 & 50 MILES

Warning: Wheel lugs can shift and settle quickly after being first assembled, and must be
checked after the first 25 and 50 miles of driving. Failure to perform this check may
result in a wheel coming loose from the trailer, causing a crash leading to death or serious
injury.

 ADJUST BRAKE SHOES AT FIRST 200 MILES

Brake shoes and drums experience a rapid initial wear. The brakes must be adjusted after
the first 200 miles of use, and each 3,000 miles thereafter. Some axles are fitted with a

mechanism that will automatically adjust the brake shoes when the trailer is “hard
braked” from a forward direction. Read your axle and brake manual to see if your brakes

adjust automatically.

A hard stop is used to confirm that the brakes work; confirm that the trailer brakes are
properly synchronized with the tow vehicle brakes; automatically adjust the brake shoes.

If your trailer is not fitted with automatically adjusting brakes, the brakes will need to be
manually adjusted.

 SYNCHRONIZING THE BRAKE SYSTEMS

Trailer brakes are designed to work in synchronization with the brakes on the tow
vehicle. Do not use either brake system alone to stop the combined tow vehicle and
trailer.

When the tow vehicle and trailer braking systems are synchronized, both braking systems
contribute to slowing, and the tongue of the trailer will neither dive nor rise sharply.

B. INSPECTION & SERVICE

 AXLE, BOLTS, FRAME, SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE

Warning: Worn or broken suspension parts can cause loss of control and injury may
result.

Have trailer professionally inspected annually and after any impact.
When jacking and using jack stands, place them so as to clear wiring, brake lines, and
suspension parts (springs, torsion bars, etc.). Place jacks and jack stands inside of the
perimeter strip on the supporting structure to which the axles are attached.
Warning: Never crawl under your trailer unless it is on firm and level ground and resting
on properly placed and secured jack stands.

 TRAILER STRUCTURE

Because the trailer floor receives the most abuse, it will most likely corrode before any
other part of the structure. This is particularly true for horse and livestock trailers, having
floors subjected to urine and manure. The urine and manure are corrosive to the
aluminum flooring and other structural parts of the trailer.

Remove the rubber mats from the floor of the trailer, and wash them, at least every three
months. Using a power washer and a detergent solution, wash both sides of the rubber
mat, as well as the floor and walls of the trailer. Rinse the rubber mat and the trailer floor
and walls. Be sure the rubber mat and trailer floor are completely dry before replacing
the rubber mat.

 FASTENERS & FRAME MEMBERS

Inspect all of the fasteners and structural frame members for bending and other damage,
cracks, or failure. Repair or replace any damaged fastener and repair the frame member.
If you have any questions about the condition or method of repair of fasteners or frame
members, get the recommendation of, or have the repair done by, your dealer.

Warning: Broken or damaged fasteners or welds can cause injury or damage to trailer
and contents. Inspect for and repair all damaged parts at least once a year.

 WELDS

All welds can crack or fail when subjected to heavy loads or movement of cargo that was
not properly tied to prevent movement. Any time that you know or suspect that the
trailer has been subjected to heavy loads or movement of cargo, immediately inspect the
welds and fasteners for damage. To prevent severe damage to your trailer, inspect all of
the welds for cracks or failure at least once a year.

Warning: Improper weld repair will lead to early failure of the trailer structure and can
cause serious injury or death. Do not repair cracked or broken welds unless you have the

skills and equipment to make a proper repair. If not, have the welds repaired by your
dealer.

 RAMPS

If your trailer has a drop-ramp door, the weight of the door may be partially held by a
torsion spring and a cable. Stand to the side when opening the drop ramp. You could be
hurt if you are behind the drop ramp and the counterbalance does not work.
Inspect the cable and cable ends regularly for fraying and signs of loosening. If released,
a torsion spring can inflict serious injury.

The torsion spring and cable are not user serviceable. The torsion spring must be
serviced by a person who is trained in torsion spring safety.

C. BRAKE SHOES & DRUMS

Properly functioning brake shoes and drums are essential to ensure safety. You must
have your dealer inspect these components at least once per year, or each 12,000 miles.

The brake shoes must be adjusted after the first 200 miles of use, and each 3,000 miles
thereafter. Most axles are fitted with a brake mechanism that will adjust the brakes
during a hard stop. Read your axle and brake manual to see how to adjust your brakes. If
you do not have this manual, call LIBERTY INC at 785-363-2552 for a free copy.

 MANUALLY ADJUSTING BRAKE SHOES

Some braking systems are not automatically adjusted by hard stopping. These brakes
require manual adjustment. Read your axle and brake manual to see how to adjust your
brakes. If you do not have this manual, call LIBERTY INC at 785-363-2552 for a free
copy.

 ELECTRIC BRAKES

Two different types of electric brakes may be present on the trailer: an emergency electric
breakaway system, which acts only if the trailer comes loose from the hitch and the
breakaway pin is pulled. The other brake is an electric braking system that acts whenever
the brakes of the tow vehicle are applied.

 BREAKAWAY BRAKE

This battery supplies the power to operate the trailer brakes if the trailer uncouples from
the tow vehicle. Be sure to check, maintain and replace the battery according to the
battery manufacturer’ instructions.

 BREAKAWAY SWITCH

This switch causes the breakaway battery to operate the electric brakes if the trailer
uncouples from the tow vehicle.

The pull cable for the pull pin is connected to the tow vehicle, and the switch is
connected to the trailer. To check for proper functioning of the switch, battery and
brakes, you must pull the pin from the switch and confirm that the brakes apply to each
wheel. You can do this by trying to pull the trailer with the tow vehicle, after pulling the
pin. The trailer brakes may not lock, but you will notice that a greater force is needed to
pull the trailer.

Warning: If electric breakaway brakes do not operate when trailer in uncoupled from the
tow vehicle, death or serious injury can occur. Check emergency breakaway brake
system BEFORE each tow.

 TOW VEHICLE OPERATED ELECTRIC BRAKES

The electric brakes that operate in conjunction with the tow vehicle brakes must be
“synchronized” so that braking is properly distributed to the tow vehicle brakes and the
trailer brakes. For proper operation and synchronization, read and follow the axle/brake
and the brake controller manufacturers’ instructions.

 MAGNETS FOR ALL ELECTRIC BRAKES

To make certain an electrically operated braking system will function properly, you must
have your dealer inspect the magnets at least once a year, or each 12,000 miles. See the
axle manual for wear and current inspection instructions.

D. TRAILER COMPONENTS

 COUPLER & BALL

The coupler on the trailer connects to the ball attached to the hitch on the tow vehicle.